King Kendrick, surely?
Kendrick Lamar is similar to a volcano in many respects. Even if he sits inactive for years, the possibility of devastation remains constant. Even while he might not be near an eruption, people who are aware of his power are terrified of what might occur if things go wrong. The inhabitants of Pompeii were aware that their way of life was in danger due to Mount Vesuvius. But they never would have thought that one day they would wake up knowing that it would be their last. Pompeii was blanketed in volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted, trapping its citizens in whatever posture they were in at the time of contact.
In general, Kendrick Lamar’s treatment of Drake during their rap feud can be interpreted as a parallel for the devastation in Pompeii. Although Drake was aware of Kendrick’s strength as an MC, he misjudged him at the most critical juncture and ended up being burned. His career is currently in limbo. You know, frozen in place. The Toronto megastar has released a lot of music, but none of it has been successful. Kendrick, meanwhile, has persisted in his destructive trajectory. In addition to landing the Super Bowl Halftime Show, he released the number-one album GNX. In addition, the Pulitzer Prize winner has received further Grammy nominations, and he will embark on a tour with SZA beginning in 2019.
Because of his generational run in 2024, we have chosen to name Kendrick Lamar the 2024 HotNewHipHop MVP. Having said that, it’s critical to reflect and describe how we arrived at this decision.
Fans Are Startled by Kendrick Lamar’s controversial verse on “Like That“
Hip-hop enthusiasts awoke on Friday, March 22nd, to a treat. At the time, everyone was aware that Future and Metro Boomin were releasing their album We Don’t Trust You. However, we were unaware of the features, and we had no idea that this would spark a nuclear reaction, resulting in a hip-hop civil war. Of course, we’re referring to Kendrick Lamar’s verse from the song “Like That.” Even without Kendrick’s verse, this would be the album’s best song. The song is a force to be reckoned with, from its outstanding production to Future’s infectious hook. However, it is Kendrick’s verse that truly elevates it to legendary status.
In his piece, Lamar criticizes Drake and J. Cole for collaborating on the song “First Person Shooter,” which Kendrick was said to have been approached for. He directly addresses the concept of the “big three” and claims to be the sole one sitting on the throne. It was a high-energy stanza with some of K. Dot’s distinctive vocal embellishments and double-entendres. Furthermore, it caused Drake and J. Cole to respond, with various degrees of effectiveness.
An Explosion of Lyricism With “Euphoria”
Following “Like That,” J. Cole opened with “7 Minute Drill,” the final track off his surprise album Might Delete Later. Unfortunately, this diss tune fell flat, leaving fans unsatisfied. To make matters worse, Cole appeared on stage at the Dreamville Festival and apologized to Kendrick. Subsequently, he removed the song off the album, resulting in digital boos and humorous nicknames like “J. Fold.”
Drake was the last contender left standing after Cole was eliminated. Initially, he fought valiantly. We got “Push Ups,” a catchy and formidable diss track that mocked Kendrick’s height and the financials of his record deal with TDE. The song also sowed the seeds of infidelity rumors against Whitney Alford, Lamar’s longtime fiancee. Drake then kept the momentum going with the AI Tupac and Snoop Dogg-assisted “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which turned out to be in horrible taste. However, one may argue that he received the desired reaction.
All of this spurred Kendrick’s release of “Euphoria,” one of the best lyrical showcases of the decade thus far. This sweeping 6-minute single was the most direct we’d heard Kendrick since the “Control” verse in 2013. Overall, he criticized Drake’s upbringing, parenting abilities, fashion sense, and even his Toronto accent. It was a song that immediately put Kendrick back in the spotlight, and in many ways, it foreshadowed how the rest of this feud would unfold.
Kendrick Lamar Declares Victory With “Meet The Grahams” and “Not Like Us“
A few days following the release of “Euphoria,” Kendrick Lamar teased Drake with the Instagram-exclusive tune “6:16 In LA.” This song was more of a warning than a direct diss. Kendrick made a prophetic declaration that he knew how Drake would respond and that he would be prepared when it arrived. On schedule, Drake released “Family Matters” on Friday, May 3rd, only for Lamar to stomp all over it 45 minutes later.
Kendrick dragged Drake to therapy, accompanied by one of the most evil Alchemist beats you’ll ever hear. In “Meet The Grahams,” Kendrick addresses Drake’s family members individually. He explains to them how Aubrey falls short and even makes some serious accusations. However, the most brilliant aspect of the song is Kendrick’s attempt to alienate Drake from everyone he loves. It’s a masterclass in manipulation that pulls at the listener’s heartstrings and addresses everyone by name.
For example, naming Steph Curry and LeBron James was deliberate. Both men have young girls, and by using the “protect the children” angle, Lamar compels Drake’s real-life pals to reassess their relationships. He does the same while addressing Drake’s female fans, who have supported him throughout his career. Because Drake would not be the megastar he is today if it were not for his female admirers.
The very following day, Kendrick surprised us with “Not Like Us.” Is there anything extra to say about this record? From the Mustard beat to the catchy flows and disturbing lyrics, this was the most popular song of the year. It will go down in history as one of the top five diss records of all time, and some consider it to be number one already. It’s also a Billboard chart-topping tune with multiple Grammy nominations. Drake’s response record “The Heart Pt. VI” was pathetic, and a winner was eventually decided.
The Pop Out
In the immediate aftermath of the battle, Kendrick Lamar announced “The Pop Out,” an Amazon Music performance at the Forum in LA. Kendrick’s first official victory lap was also a celebration of West Coast culture. DJ Hed’s set featured Tommy The Clown, AzChike and Rucci, Remble, JasonMartin, and many others. Meanwhile, Mustard rocked the house with Steve Lacy, Tyler, the Creator, Roddy Ricch, and, of course, YG.
Meanwhile, Kendrick began his concert with “Euphoria” and progressed through his greatest songs, all while reconnecting with Black Hippy. Furthermore, he appeared with Dr. Dre, who introduced the first live version of “Not Like Us,” which was played five times in a row. It was an incredible event and a watershed moment for Los Angeles and California as a whole. The entire West Coast was unified that night, a motif that would be repeated on Lamar’s most recent album, GNX.
K. Dot At The Super Bowl
Following the Drake feud, Kendrick went inactive yet again. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this feud was Kendrick’s silence on social media. No interviews, no shenanigans, simply YouTube links with no introduction. It was an efficient show that demonstrated the artist’s mastery of strategy. Drake might have had a better chance if he had approached the situation similarly.
Having said that, Kendrick broke his quiet on September 8th, announcing that he would perform at the Super Bowl 59 Halftime Show in New Orleans. This was a contentious choice, as some felt that hometown hero Lil Wayne should have received the nod. However, Kendrick is a brilliant performer, and his victory over Drake leaves no doubt that the honor was well-deserved. Finally, the announcement bolstered K. Dot’s chances of being crowned hip-hop MVP in 2024.
With GNX, Kendrick Lamar closes out the year.
Kendrick decided to surprise us again, this time on the morning of November 22nd. He did so by releasing his new album GNX, a 12-track appetizer designed to keep fans interested until his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance in February. Overall, Kendrick’s fans have been anticipating for this type of production. It is not bound by an idea or a larger underlying meaning. Individual tracks like “Reincarnated,” “Man At The Garden,” and “Gloria” are extremely intellectual, but the rest of the album is packed with bangers and R&B slow jams.
“Squabble Up,” “tv off,” “peekaboo,” and “hey now” are songs with high Super Bowl potential. Meanwhile, “Luther” is easily the record’s biggest crossover smash, with amazing vocals and harmony from SZA and Kendrick. Given their two previous collaborations on GNX, it stands to reason that they would partner up for the Grand National stadium tour, which begins in April 2025.
Everything we’ve discussed here shows why Kendrick Lamar had the best year of any rapper in 2024. You’d be hard pushed to find someone that came close to this level of dominance. 2025 will be a fascinating year, but one thing is certain: no other artist will be able to achieve this level of success.
